Black Immigrant Daily News

Babies are cute but most people don’t want to sit next to one on a plane.

The crying, screaming and overall fussiness could be a real pain to your senses, especially on long-haul flights.

For parents flying with their young ones, it is stressful having to deal with a fussy baby while cognisant of the side eyes that you are getting from fellow passengers.

If you are a parent of a baby or toddler and you are travelling with your children, here are some tips to keep them comfortable and lessen their distress during the flight.

Ease their distress during take-off and landing

A main cause of distress for babies and toddlers is the change in cabin pressure during take-off and landing. Feeding your baby during these times and giving your toddler a crunchy snack or lollipop to suck on helps to reduce the distress.

Walk with a car seat

Some airlines allow you to use a car or safety seat for your children. On American Airlines and Caribbean Airlines, for instance, you must have bought a seat for the child in order to use a safety seat. Window seats are preferred for safety seats to be installed. CAL states that the car seat cannot be used in bulkhead seats, or seats that would block anyone’s access to the aisle of the aircraft, the emergency exit row, or the row in front of or behind an emergency exit row. The car seat must also conform with approved FAA/CAA requirements. AA says that safety seats are not allowed in First or Business class on select planes due to the seat angles.

Make them comfortable

Keep them snug with a pillow and blanket as well as his/her favourite stuffed toy. Check your airline to see if they provide bassinets for your baby to sleep in and ensure they aren’t too warm or too cold.

Pack extra food and clothing

Ensure you have enough formula for your baby if it is formula fed as well as water to mix the formula. Pack extra snacks for your toddler if they get hungrier than usual on a long flight or if your flight has been delayed and ensure you have extra clothing, wipes and diapers.

Keep them engaged

Walk with your children’s favourite book, plush toy, or a device for showing their favourite shows to keep your children engaged. Feel free to walk up and down the aisles with them as well if they want to move around.

Time your flight

If you can, book your flight at a time you know your child is likely to be asleep so they are less likely to be awake and fussy during the flight. If possible, ensure nappies are changed prior to the flight so your baby remains dry and comfortable on board. If you do need to change diapers, check out the airline’s policy. CAL does not allow diapers to be changed in the cabin, only in the bathroom where there are changing tables installed.

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The government through the Ministry of Housing and Water has served the final notice to five squatters in Cane view/Herstelling (Mocha) who have refused to move from the area earmarked for the new Eccles to Great Diamond Highway.

Minister Collin Croal said extensive work was done to ensure the residents were relocated to developed housing schemes and were compensated based on the market value of their structures.

However, Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton recently visited the area and urged the five remaining squatters on the reserve, to remain, stating that the area is ‘ancestral lands.’

Minister Croal described the opposition’s statement as ‘reckless’, noting that the APNU+AFC is not interested in the development and upliftment of the very people it claims to represent.

“There is nothing new about the thoughtless messaging from the opposition leader… they are not interested in giving the best possible advice so that we can work and build this nation,” the Minister said in a recent interview with DPI.

He explained that the government reserve being referred to is between Mocha and Herstelling and has always been earmarked for infrastructural expansion.

“So, those persons [ the squatters] would have never been able to be regularised or have a document for ownership, as well as to [be able to] apply for utility in terms of electricity and water …”

Minister Croal further noted that the process to remove the squatters was done in a way to minimise living disruption of the families while making sure that homeownership is legally achieved as a means of building generational wealth.

“We have served notices, we have gone to those persons repeatedly and that is why we have moved it to the level of publicising all the steps we have taken so far, so the people of this country can understand where we are at now, so it is not a case where we woke up overnight and we just said tomorrow you must move, its months now and we are going to over a year…. in trying to remedy this situation while improving the lives of our citizens,” he stated.

Some of the residents who were relocated to the Farm-Herstelling housing areas have begun construction of their new homes, while others have already completed their structures.

Updating on the progress of the new Eccles to Great Diamond Highway, Minister Croal said that “the lots are moving well, it is only this one lot that must be addressed.

“Work has started on both ends of the highway, but the squatters are in the middle of the lots, which is impeding completion of the new four-lane highway alignment.”

Minister Croal reminded that the housing sector was not prioritised under the APNU+AFC’s tenure, in fact, the sector was reduced to a department with little funding and no real plans for housing development.

“History will show that [with] all PNC administration little has been done in the housing sector. In fact, little was done during their [last] five-year tenure that they have had [2015-2020] …making people’s lives better, putting people in a better environment and a much more comfortable environment has never been a priority of theirs.” the minister added.

Pointing out the continuous reckless behaviour of the opposition in stymieing the development of communities, Minister Croal said the PPP/C Administration will continue to work with every community to improve the living standard of citizens.

“We are building a One Guyana – so it means that it does not matter your political persuasion, it does not matter your race, your creed; we will come in your community and work with everyone, and similarly when you look at what we are doing at housing, it is for everybody and this is what you will get from every PPP/C government…” the Housing Minister said.

The PPP/C government is committed to fulfilling its manifesto promise of delivering 50, 000 house lots within five years.

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See full statement from the Attorney General Chambers: 

We have noted the decision of the Honourable Chief Justice, Madam Roxane George, CCH, SC, in respect of the legal challenge by Ramps Logistics (Guyana) Inc.  We have not yet received a copy of Her Honour’s written ruling in the cause. Upon receipt, the same would be scrupulously examined for the purpose of determining, inter alia, whether there will be further proceedings.

From the inception we indicated that the Local Content Act, No. 18 of 2021 was an initial attempt to create a novel statutory framework in respect of a new undertaking, indeed without compare in the region. As a result, we promised that it will remain under constant review and will be modified and refined with time and experience. We are satisfied that the Act provides a solid foundation which has guided the sector thus far and enabled a protective network for the interest of Guyanese and Guyanese companies operating in the sector.

Importantly, Regulations and Guidelines are already in draft and will now benefit from the Chief Justice’s ruling and experience garnered in the sector. These Regulations and Guidelines will further enhance the legislative framework, as well as set out criteria which will inform the exercise of discretion and guide the decision-making processes enshrined in the legislation. These measures will also address the conduct of operators in the sector, including their compliance levels with related legislative and administrative requirements, as we strive to achieve the legislation’s core intent, that is, to protect and promote Guyana’s best interest.

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The Ministry of Financial Services confirmed that the Minister for Financial Services and Commerce, the Hon. Andr? Ebanks, today addressed how the Cayman Islands cooperates on tax matters globally, and specifically with the EU, during a meeting with EU Members of Parliament (MEPs).

Minister Ebanks said he accepted the invitation to exchange views with the EU Parliament’s Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC) to provide a better understanding of the Cayman Islands’ partnership with jurisdictions globally to prevent and detect international tax crimes, in accordance with OECD standards. (FISC was established by the EU Parliament to assist in the fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance, as well as for tax transparency purposes.)

“Like EU Member States and other countries around the world, the Cayman Islands endeavours to offer the best possible opportunities for our people to thrive and grow. Similarly, we are concerned about global issues, including climate change and economic stability,” he said.

And like EU Member States and other countries around the world, we also recognise that every government must collect sufficient tax revenues to deliver public services, such as healthcare, financial assistance, infrastructure and education.

Therefore the Cayman Islands’ firm position is that, as a global partner in fighting financial crime, we share tax information with relevant law and tax officials. This helps to ensure that taxes are paid where profits are made; and that governments are able to fund the projects and programmes that support their respective citizens.

The Minister continued.

To help address misunderstandings or information gaps that some MEPs could have, Minister Ebanks shared a graphic detailing the Cayman Islands’ progress in improving our regulatory regime; and answered their questions, including on how the Cayman Islands’ indirect tax system is not harmful to other jurisdictions that levy a direct tax.

He also invited FISC’s Chair, Paul Tang; and FISC members to visit Cayman Islands, for them to learn more about the Cayman Islands’ role in facilitating tax neutral investments.

MEPs expressed their gratitude for Minister’s appearance before the FISC committee.

Emphasizing Cayman’s progress, Minister Ebanks noted: “We have done much to establish ourselves as a global partner. Quite a bit of this is evident in the cooperation frameworks found on our Department for International Tax Cooperation website, and in our assessments by the OECD, which sets the global tax-information exchange standard.”

“But, to dispel the legacy misperceptions, we must be willing to engage in respectful, open and frank discussions. I thank Chair Tang and the FISC members for their kind invitation and our fruitful public discourse,” the Minister concluded.

More about the FISC

The FISC meeting was a key component of Minister Ebanks’ international engagement this month.

Prior to this meeting, the Premier, the Hon. Wayne Panton, addressed TAXE2 (FISC’s predecessor) in 2017, as the-then Minister of Financial Services.

(Source: Ministry of Financial Services)

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A number of commuters, though unable to carry out most of their normal functions due to their inability to get around, are in support of the islandwide strike by taxi operators.

They believe that the Government knew well in advance that the protest was coming and could have prevented it from happening.

“The Government is at all fault in this one. If they had cared about us, they would have listened to the cry of the taximen before it reached this stage,” Mitzi Lennon told Loop News on Monday.

Lennon, a nurse from Manchester, had to make alternative preparations to get her children to school Monday morning and will have to take time off work to take them home in the evening.

“Yes, taximen make mistakes; they may forget to pay or don’t have the money to pay for the tickets they get. We like to say that they are indisciplined, but many times they get tickets while helping out passengers and some of the police write tickets for an exorbitant amount of monies,” she said.

A group of transport operators hold placards in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew on Monday after withdrawing their services as they call for a traffic ticket amnesty from the authorities.

Sixty-seven-year-old Bethune Weeks, who is in Greater Portmore, also supports the action taken by the transport operators.

“The government could have asked the taxi drivers to stay their hands and work something out long time, but everybody is playing hardnose,” she said.

The retiree, whose appearance belies her age, said that she is fit and will walk to do what she has to get done on Monday.

“I’m at the ATM as you see, when I’m done, I will walk to where I need to do my other chores and try to get things done before the sun gets too hot. I don’t blame the taxi drivers,” she said.

In Portmore, St Catherine, some people who were at bus stops for a few hours returned home.

“I’m going home. There is nothing I can do. I can’t get any vehicle, and the JUTC buses have not come either. I heard that the taxi drivers wanted some deadline to pay off their tickets but they didn’t get it, so this is what happened. I feel that they could give them the time like how they know that if the taxis came off the road it would have a bad effect on us,” a Convent of Mercy Academy ‘Alpha’ student told Loop News Monday morning.

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